Raving Lunatic

I'm driving on NewBern Avenue, minding my own business, intent on stopping to check a work schedule at Wake Mental health before heading back to District 21. I can't help but notice a white pickup truck run the stop sign on Pettigrew Street, crossing all three lanes in front of my police car. I had to brake suddenly to avoid a wreck.

As the truck passes I notice there is no license plate attached. I immediately follow. The truck is all over the road...obviously an impaired driver. The truck takes a right on State Street, crosses into the wrong lane, and parks, slamming both left tires into the curb. I engage my blue lights.

The driver is a middle-aged black man wearing jeans and a black sport jacket. He is immediately belligerent. "Fucking cop! I hate all you white-bread motherfuckers!"

He's drunk. I give him several sobriety tests, all of which he fails miserably. I arrest him and, straight out of the tough-guy play book, he waits until he's handcuffed to run his mouth.

"I hope you get your head blown off! I hope all white people die! I hope your children die! I'm gonna call the NAACP! You gone lose yo job, cracker!"

His hostile tirade continues for two solid hours, testing my patience. He refuses to cooperate with any part of the booking process, a sure way to have your bail denied.

The first court setting comes and he immediately pleads guilty. This is unheard of. Most DWI cases take anywhere from eight months to a year to adjudicate. And this guy pleads guilty?

He tells the judge he's an alcoholic. He tells her he knows the law and the state's case is weak, even though he's pleading guilty to it. Six misdemeanor charges, three of which carry potential four month sentences. Two prior DWI's. The judge gives him time served and probation. Eleven days in jail and a year of probation. The system at its finest.